Skegness Town and Leicester Nirvana shared the points after an extremely tight and entertaining 1-1 draw on Saturday, with both sides having opportunities to claim all three points in an entertaining contest that ebbed and flowed from end to end.

Neither side was able to establish complete control for any sustained period, with both teams creating chances and both ultimately left to rue opportunities that could have secured victory.

The first opportunity fell to Nirvana after 10 minutes. A ball into the right-hand side of the Town penalty area wasn't dealt with, allowing Liam Taylor to pounce following a mix-up between Radford and Simmons. However, Jake Lovelace was on hand to make an important save on his return from injury.

Town suffered a frustrating setback of their own in the 22nd minute when Jordan Nuttell was forced from the field with another injury. Declan Johnson was introduced in his place.

The Lilywhites had their first real opportunity to break the deadlock on the half-hour mark. A long ball was headed on by Johnson into the path of Lucas Dakin, but his effort sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.

Nirvana responded almost immediately. Two minutes later, the ball found Lamar Parkes, but he too was unable to keep his effort below the crossbar.

Dakin was involved again just a minute later, this time receiving the ball from Matt Clarke, but he couldn't direct his shot on target.

The visitors posed a significant threat down their right flank through Tamar Clayton-Naute, who enjoyed an excellent individual battle with Town's Kyle Radford, who had been tasked with keeping the dangerous winger quiet.

Clayton-Naute produced an excellent piece of play in the 42nd minute. A brilliant first touch allowed him to evade Radford before he fired an excellent cross across the Town penalty area. It found Taylor, but the Nirvana forward could only head narrowly wide.

Town had one more opportunity before the break when Johnson found himself at the back post from a corner, but he was unable to direct his header towards goal.

The sides therefore went into half-time level at 0-0.

Town made their first change of the second half in the 57th minute, with returning McCauley Parker replacing Kitt-Bushell.

The deadlock was finally broken six minutes later.

Nirvana regained possession following a defensive header, and after another pass the ball arrived at the feet of Evandro Sanches, just inside the Town half.

Sanches spotted the run immediately and produced an excellent defence-splitting pass between Simmons and Radford. Clayton-Naute's pace did the rest.

The Nirvana winger raced around and beyond Radford to meet the perfectly weighted pass before calmly slotting the ball beyond the advancing Lovelace.

Skegness Town 0-1 Leicester Nirvana.

Town responded by making another change in the 67th minute, with Toby Cotton replacing Harley Thompson.

The Lilywhites were back on level terms in the 74th minute following a goalmouth scramble.

Initially, it appeared that Liam Adams had been fouled just before managing to get a shot away, but the referee waved play on and no penalty was awarded. The loose ball fell to Lucas Dakin, who produced a moment of real ingenuity, using a clever backheel to divert the ball beyond the goalkeeper and into the net.

Nirvana immediately protested that Dakin had been offside, but there was no doubt that Alvin Magagada had played the Town forward onside.

It was a wonderfully clever finish from Dakin and took his tally to an impressive eight goals already this season.

Town made another change in the 78th minute, with Matt Ward replacing Kieran Wressell.

Two minutes later, Dakin came agonisingly close to completing the turnaround.

A superb ball from Cotton put the Town striker in behind the Nirvana defence and through one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Dakin had the opportunity to score his second of the afternoon and put Town ahead, but on this occasion he couldn't make the opportunity count.

Town continued to threaten, and a minute later some excellent combination football between Dakin and Johnson saw the ball eventually arrive in the box for Liam Adams.

Adams got a shot away, but his effort was blocked as Town continued to search for the winning goal.

Nirvana were certainly not short of attacking endeavour themselves, however, and they came within inches of retaking the lead in the 86th minute.

A ball from the left found Hassan Farouq in space directly in front of goal. The Nirvana man had a golden opportunity to punish Town, but he was unable to get the required quality on his left-footed attempt, sending the ball agonisingly over the crossbar.

It proved to be the final major opportunity of an absorbing contest.

The game finished 1-1, with both sides having chances to take all three points in an extremely tight and entertaining encounter.

For Town, there was plenty to be encouraged by in a game that could have gone either way. Dakin's continued goalscoring form was once again a major positive, while Lovelace's return from injury provided another welcome boost.

Ultimately, though, neither side could find the decisive moment, and the points were shared after a thoroughly entertaining afternoon.

Skegness Town 1-1 Leicester Nirvana

Team: Jake Lovelace, Luke Rayner-Mistry, Kyle Radford, Matt Clarke, Noah Simmons, Kieran Wressell (C) (79' Matt Ward), Lucas Dakin, Liam Adams, Jordan Nuttell (25' Dec Johnson), Harley Thompson (68' Toby Cotton), Theo Kitt-Bushell (58' McCauley Parker),

Unused Subs: Jamie Robinson